A latest study paper says mobile phones change the behavior and interaction between children and caregivers.

For the study, the researchers secretly observed the caregivers and the children at fast-food restaurants. They observed 55 interactions in 15 neighborhoods in Boston.

The parents and children were secretly watched for 10 to 40 minutes depending on their meals. The researchers noted down the frequent usage of phones by the parents, children's calls for attention and their parents' response.

The study result showed that parents were mostly occupied with their mobile phones and some just responded to their children with eyes glued to their devices.

"We chose to observe caregivers and children during meals because this is a daily routine in which face-to-face caregiver-child interactions are considered beneficial," wrote Dr. Jenny Radesky, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center, reports The Los Angeles Times.

"It has been estimated that 40% of American meals are eaten outside the home, so fast-food outings probably represent a substantial proportion of family meals," Radesky and her colleagues wrote.

The researchers also found that the parents who were engrossed in their devices reacted harshly to their children's misbehavior.

The children, on the other hand, ate their meals, talked to other children or played with toys and did not appear to change their behavior based on their parents' mobile phone use, especially if the use was for a brief time, reports Philly.com.

The researchers found that the parents were mostly engaged in scrolling through information and not talking on the phone. They looked at their children even while attending calls.

"Caregiver is looking at the phone, nodding a little while the child talks but not looking back at her or responding with words," one researcher wrote in their observation notes, reports the LA Times. "Caregiver doesn't appear to be listening but says a few words in response every once in a while."

The researchers said that further study was required to elaborate the evidence as the current study was conducted on small number of people.